David Anderson
staff writer
12/15/08
2010 is shaping up to be a banner year for Kinston; Spirit AeroSystems plans to begin production of aircraft components that year, and 123 new Dopaco workers are expected to be hired, trained and ready to go at the same time.
State and county officials announced Monday that Dopaco Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of paper packaging for fast-food restaurants, will hire 123 new workers for its Kinston plant.
“To be here before you with times as they are is really a blessing,” Lenoir County Economic Development Director Mark Pope told spectators gathered for the announcement in the Waller Building at Lenoir Community College.
Dopaco opened its Kinston facility in 1993. Since then, the plant has grown to a 300,000 square-foot behemoth with a current workforce of 204. The new employees will create a total workforce of 327.
“I have personally seen our company grow four to five times its size since 1993, and much of that growth has taken place in Kinston,” said Donald Heisey, vice president of human resources.
The company has also pledged to invest $25.3 million in the new operation, much of it in purchasing new manufacturing equipment to make cups, lids and cartons. Dopaco serves fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Jack in the Box.
The company received $625,000 in state and county incentives, including a $425,000 grant from the county and a $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Both incentive packages will be awarded over several years based on the company’s performance.
“The business of Commerce is business,” said Gene Byrd, director of business retention and expansion at the N.C. Commerce Department. “And one of the greatest pleasures we have is seeing our existing companies grow and prosper.”
Heisey said company officials are currently preparing to move equipment, much of which still needs to be purchased, into the Kinston plant.
Installation of the machines is scheduled to begin next summer and the company will also start hiring and training workers through LCC that year.
The full workforce should be hired by the time all machines are installed in 2010.
“We want to have people trained and ready to go by the time the equipment is installed,” Heisey said.